Create

Test ideas with real people, track and refine fast.

A university health sciences department wanted to boost student engagement with a weekly newsletter on emerging medical research. Before a full launch, they asked, Will students open and read it? Success meant an open rate over 40% and at least 20 student feedback replies. They sent a sample issue to 50 students and followed up with quick surveys and hallway interviews.

Steps

Before testing, fill out the top half of your report card.
- What learning questions do you need to answer to move forward confidently?
- What key metrics will indicate your MVP is working? (e.g., attendance, feedback, engagement)
- What testing method will you use? (e.g., role play, pop-up event, flyer, storyboard)
- What assumptions need to be true for this idea to succeed? (e.g., community interest, policy conditions, available resources)
Run the test. Share your MVP with people. Observe, ask questions, and gather both behavioral and verbal feedback.
Fill out the bottom half of your report card (What we learned?):
- What insights answered your learning questions?
- Did your success metrics hold up?
- Were your assumptions validated, challenged, or irrelevant?
Based on what you learned, decide (Iterations):
- What to change
- What to keep
- What to explore next in future tests
Repeat and evolve. Iterate until your idea is clearly desirable, feasible, and viable.